Commercial Vessel Attacked in Red Sea, Crew Forced to Abandon Ship

A commercial vessel in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen, was targeted in an attack on Sunday, leading the crew to abandon ship. The incident marks another instance of violence in this crucial shipping lane.

The attack took place approximately 51 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. Initial reports from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicated the ship was struck by unknown projectiles, resulting in a fire. The UKMTO, managed by Britain's Royal Navy, later confirmed that the crew had evacuated the vessel and were awaiting assistance.

Prior to the abandonment, the UKMTO reported that the ship was engaged by multiple small vessels that opened fire with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The ship's armed security team responded to the attack.

A UK-based security firm, Ambrey, reported that the merchant ship was hit by two naval drones, which damaged the cargo. Ambrey also stated that two other unmanned vessels were repelled.

The port of Hodeidah is under the control of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Ambrey noted that the targeted vessel aligned with the typical profile of ships targeted by the Houthis. Earlier reports from Ambrey indicated that the ship was approached and attacked by eight skiffs while traveling north in the Red Sea.